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By Jon Kraushar - Communications Consultant
Originally posted December 25th, 2008 3:14 PM Eastern
Whose Ponzi Scheme Is Worse: Madoff’s or the Government’s?
Pardon my humbug this Christmas Day, but how many people have considered that the trillion-or-so dollars the Bush and Obama administrations might spend on bailout and stimulus efforts could turn out to be a worse Ponzi scheme than Bernard Madoff’s fleecing of investors, estimated at up to $50 billion?
Before we rush headlong and panicked into throwing even more good taxpayer money into believing that, yes Virginia, government programs like this actually work, have we looked at the model for all this — similar government “rescue” spending during the Great Depression?
That “New Deal” turned out to be a bad deal. Research by historians including Amity Shlaes, Jim Powell and others has found that President Roosevelt’s expensive Depression-era make-work projects actually coincided with an increase in unemployment and that the projects took years to complete, producing at best minimal benefits to the economy.
When was the last time that government spending on such a large scale turned out to be anything more than a stimulus to special interests? Labor unions and favored industries, including “green” ones, will benefit under the ongoing or proposed stimulus plans by Obama and Bush.
But where is the evidence that when government throws billions at a crisis it stimulates much more than waste, mismanagement, fraud, abuse and campaign contributions to politicians from the special interests chosen as the beneficiaries of all that taxpayer money? Where are the facts — the historical precedents — that prove that “this time it’s different”?
There is a huge risk here that, as in a Ponzi scheme, the government is merely paying off some people and some businesses as long as money can keep coming in from the suckers still paying in — and those suckers are us, the taxpayers! Where is the outrage?
I’m not saying that nothing should be done. What I am saying is let’s not be so hasty, desperate and credulous to buy into — to trust — government schemes that could make Bernard Madoff look like a piker.
Let’s listen more to those in Congress like Republican Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and some “blue dog” Democrats who are waving a caution flag saying, “Hey, slow down. There are alternative ways for government and the private sector to work together to work us out of this economic crisis. Let’s not just throw billions at this, willy nilly and half-cocked.”
Government isn’t Santa Claus. Taxpayers needn’t be Scrooges. Let’s not confuse humbug with prudence.
This Christmas season let’s submit our ideas and call for more thorough thinking before a trillion dollars in government “stimulus” and “bailout” spending possibly turns into another cautionary tale of a Ponzi scheme.
Communications consultant Jon Kraushar is at http://www.jonkraushar.net/.
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Sunday, December 28, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
"ICWA for Dummies" - Illegality of ICWA for Those That Can't Think
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As the birth Mother of five enrolled members of the Leech Lake Tribe, and the legal custodian of four additional members, I stand behind the Larsons 100%. I know life on the Leech Lake Reservation very well. My husband was a member of the tribe. He passed away foour years ago, but just three weeks before he died, so week from his cancer that he needed a wheel chair, he again went to DC and told Senators that ICWA was a bad law. He also spoke at the National Press Club about it. Then he came home, spent ten days in the hospital, and was discharged to our home to die. His last strength was used fighting ICWA.
This case in Utah is NOT ISOLATED and many children and families have suffered from ICWA. Someone needs to stand up and say it is wrong! Please see more ICWA family stories at http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
Those that think this ICWA law has any validity are insane. The only reason this law exists is because the tribal governments have been doling out millions of dollars to federal and state campaign coffers for the last 30 years. Surprise! The tribes aren't as broke as they lead you to believe. Only trouble is, it's YOUR money that they are buying Senators with, and it's not being used for it's intended purposes.
Yes, there are many constitutional attorneys and professors that say that much of Indian law is unconstitutional. Please contact me and I can refer you to some.
Importantly, look at the last US census and ask yourself why so many enrolled members have moved off the reservation.
Now, ask yourself two questions:
#1) WHY have so many enrollable members moved off the reservation? As for our family and many of our relatives, the answer is that The Reservation Is No Place to Safely Raise Your Children.
Racists will try figure out some way to blame it on the "white man." Only trouble is, MOST Enrollable members are more white than Indian. It's easy math. Most tribes require only 1/4 blood quantum to be enrollable. SOME TRIBES have much LESS. And the Cherokee Tribe has NO required blood quantum. We have a case where a tribe has been interfering with an adoption of a child with less than 2% blood quantum. (http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html)
#2) If the Tribes have so much money to pay Congressmen with, as well as attorneys to chase children down with, why aren't they instead spending that same money on infrastructure and job growth on the reservation? What are the true priorities? Why not just develop resources and make an honest effort to move away from the federal dole? If the reservations were cleaned up, wouldn't more people want to stay there and live? How can a government call itself Sovereign when it is constantly running to the US Congress and demanding more money? Sounds like a bunch of teenagers!
So, let me wrap this little lesson up. I will use my family as an example in order to get the point across.
The Tribe Does NOT Own My Family - and in Particular, MY Children.
My Children are 50% Minnesota Chippewa, but they are also 1/4 German, Jewish, and a spattering pf Irish Catholic. They have OTHER relatives than just those on the reservation. MOST enrollable children have relatives of other heritage.
In fact, we have German Jewish relatives that died at Auschwitz.
So tell me why my children's Native American heritage is more important than their Jewish, Irish, or Scottish heritage. Tell me why in the world the state of Minnesota has passed a law last year that says that suggests tribal heritage is more important, and that the Minnesota tribes have jurisdiction over any enrollable child, even if the child and his family don't want to be involved with the tribe and has never had any contact or relationship with the tribe.
That law affects not only my children but my grandchildren, who will all be at least 1/4 Minnesota Chippewa.
For every non-Indian screaming about how we have to honor Leech Lake's tribal sovereignty...why don't they move their families to Cass Lake, Minnesota. Enroll their kids in school there and encourage them to go play at the housing tracts.
If they are not willing to raise their own children under the conditions of the Leech Lake Reservation, they shouldn’t be demanding that our children be raised there.
A commenter had the nerve in a post to suggest the Larson's had "kidnapped" this baby. Excuse me? Who the heck are the ones doing the kidnapping, but the tribes themselves that push federal and state legislators to give them all the rights to Our Children!
If anyone can connect me with the Larson’s, we have lots to talk about and much work to do.
.
As the birth Mother of five enrolled members of the Leech Lake Tribe, and the legal custodian of four additional members, I stand behind the Larsons 100%. I know life on the Leech Lake Reservation very well. My husband was a member of the tribe. He passed away foour years ago, but just three weeks before he died, so week from his cancer that he needed a wheel chair, he again went to DC and told Senators that ICWA was a bad law. He also spoke at the National Press Club about it. Then he came home, spent ten days in the hospital, and was discharged to our home to die. His last strength was used fighting ICWA.
This case in Utah is NOT ISOLATED and many children and families have suffered from ICWA. Someone needs to stand up and say it is wrong! Please see more ICWA family stories at http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
Those that think this ICWA law has any validity are insane. The only reason this law exists is because the tribal governments have been doling out millions of dollars to federal and state campaign coffers for the last 30 years. Surprise! The tribes aren't as broke as they lead you to believe. Only trouble is, it's YOUR money that they are buying Senators with, and it's not being used for it's intended purposes.
Yes, there are many constitutional attorneys and professors that say that much of Indian law is unconstitutional. Please contact me and I can refer you to some.
Importantly, look at the last US census and ask yourself why so many enrolled members have moved off the reservation.
Now, ask yourself two questions:
#1) WHY have so many enrollable members moved off the reservation? As for our family and many of our relatives, the answer is that The Reservation Is No Place to Safely Raise Your Children.
Racists will try figure out some way to blame it on the "white man." Only trouble is, MOST Enrollable members are more white than Indian. It's easy math. Most tribes require only 1/4 blood quantum to be enrollable. SOME TRIBES have much LESS. And the Cherokee Tribe has NO required blood quantum. We have a case where a tribe has been interfering with an adoption of a child with less than 2% blood quantum. (http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html)
#2) If the Tribes have so much money to pay Congressmen with, as well as attorneys to chase children down with, why aren't they instead spending that same money on infrastructure and job growth on the reservation? What are the true priorities? Why not just develop resources and make an honest effort to move away from the federal dole? If the reservations were cleaned up, wouldn't more people want to stay there and live? How can a government call itself Sovereign when it is constantly running to the US Congress and demanding more money? Sounds like a bunch of teenagers!
So, let me wrap this little lesson up. I will use my family as an example in order to get the point across.
The Tribe Does NOT Own My Family - and in Particular, MY Children.
My Children are 50% Minnesota Chippewa, but they are also 1/4 German, Jewish, and a spattering pf Irish Catholic. They have OTHER relatives than just those on the reservation. MOST enrollable children have relatives of other heritage.
In fact, we have German Jewish relatives that died at Auschwitz.
So tell me why my children's Native American heritage is more important than their Jewish, Irish, or Scottish heritage. Tell me why in the world the state of Minnesota has passed a law last year that says that suggests tribal heritage is more important, and that the Minnesota tribes have jurisdiction over any enrollable child, even if the child and his family don't want to be involved with the tribe and has never had any contact or relationship with the tribe.
That law affects not only my children but my grandchildren, who will all be at least 1/4 Minnesota Chippewa.
For every non-Indian screaming about how we have to honor Leech Lake's tribal sovereignty...why don't they move their families to Cass Lake, Minnesota. Enroll their kids in school there and encourage them to go play at the housing tracts.
If they are not willing to raise their own children under the conditions of the Leech Lake Reservation, they shouldn’t be demanding that our children be raised there.
A commenter had the nerve in a post to suggest the Larson's had "kidnapped" this baby. Excuse me? Who the heck are the ones doing the kidnapping, but the tribes themselves that push federal and state legislators to give them all the rights to Our Children!
If anyone can connect me with the Larson’s, we have lots to talk about and much work to do.
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Monday, December 22, 2008
Leech Lake Tribal Government Steals Child from Utah Family
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On Sunday, December 16, 2008, in South Jordon, Utah, Clint and Heather were forced to give the baby they had adopted and cared for to one of the worst reservations in the United States.
In the Spring of 2004, the Minneapolis Star and Tribune had done a series called the "Lost Youth Of Leech Lake." In it, the reporter described the horrible environment children are being raised in on that reservation, as well as the treatment of children by tribal social services. I myself have witnessed first hand plenty the neglectful and downright dangerous treatment and care of children on that reservation, and twenty years ago, my husband, a member born and raised there, made a decision that our children weren't going to be raised anywhere near it.
It is NOT safe, and the United States Government is CRIMINAL to be forcing children to be raised there when they have the option to live in a safe and loving home. As a matter of fact, one of the worst cases of the U.S. forcing children out of a good home and into a dysfunctional home in Leech Lake was reported in the series, the "Lost Youth of Leech Lake." It involved three little girls.
That decision by the tribe - as well as every one of our US Congress that voted for this awful ICWA law - resulted in these little girls being placed in an awful home. The final result was a murder and attempted murder. And that isn't the only tragic story involving ICWA in Leech Lake.
I urge every parent with a conscience to speak up against this law. After all, you never know when it might affect you. We have adoptive families that have written to our organization, in pain and fear because the child they have adopted is being pursued by a tribe, and the child has only a small fraction of blood quantum. in one case, the child is 98% NON-Indian. We also have had birth fathers write to us when they lost custody because they weren't Indian. We've also had grandparents write because they were denied custody because they weren't Indian.
Please, check out http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html to read many letters from families affected by ICWA.
.
On Sunday, December 16, 2008, in South Jordon, Utah, Clint and Heather were forced to give the baby they had adopted and cared for to one of the worst reservations in the United States.
In the Spring of 2004, the Minneapolis Star and Tribune had done a series called the "Lost Youth Of Leech Lake." In it, the reporter described the horrible environment children are being raised in on that reservation, as well as the treatment of children by tribal social services. I myself have witnessed first hand plenty the neglectful and downright dangerous treatment and care of children on that reservation, and twenty years ago, my husband, a member born and raised there, made a decision that our children weren't going to be raised anywhere near it.
It is NOT safe, and the United States Government is CRIMINAL to be forcing children to be raised there when they have the option to live in a safe and loving home. As a matter of fact, one of the worst cases of the U.S. forcing children out of a good home and into a dysfunctional home in Leech Lake was reported in the series, the "Lost Youth of Leech Lake." It involved three little girls.
That decision by the tribe - as well as every one of our US Congress that voted for this awful ICWA law - resulted in these little girls being placed in an awful home. The final result was a murder and attempted murder. And that isn't the only tragic story involving ICWA in Leech Lake.
I urge every parent with a conscience to speak up against this law. After all, you never know when it might affect you. We have adoptive families that have written to our organization, in pain and fear because the child they have adopted is being pursued by a tribe, and the child has only a small fraction of blood quantum. in one case, the child is 98% NON-Indian. We also have had birth fathers write to us when they lost custody because they weren't Indian. We've also had grandparents write because they were denied custody because they weren't Indian.
Please, check out http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html to read many letters from families affected by ICWA.
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Sunday, December 14, 2008
Palin's Church torched - only Arsonists were Hurt
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Sarah Palin's home church in Wasilla was set on fire by an arsonist about 10 pm Friday night. On Saturday, the fire chief said that the fire was "definitely suspicious."
Isn't that something? The anger directed at Sarah Palin during the campaign was unbelievable. It seems as though someone still hasn't gotten over it.
What's amazing was all the accusations made by those on the left about how horrid the right was going to be toward Obama. There were all kinds of accusations concerning racism and the danger that would come from "rednecks." But it was Sarah that was the recipient of the greater number of vicious attacks - and it was due to her Christian world view. Apparently, a lot more people hate Christians than hate people of a different race.
The Wasilla Bible Church has an estimated $1 million worth of damage. Fortunately, none of the ten people inside, including two children, were injured.
But Sarah is said to have faith in "the scriptural passage that what was intended for evil will in some way be used for good."
Pastor Larry Kroon said to KTUU TV, "I've had a lot worst calls at night. When one of your parishioners dies or loses a child, it's a whole different thing than the building's on fire."
Give thanks to God for everything. Every travail is an opportunity. Praise God for His goodness. Pray protection for Sarah, her family and her church and that God come against those that would try to hurt them. But also pray for those that set the fire. They must have a lot of anger and pain in their hearts to have done something like this. They really need Jesus Christ.
So many people in our country are in extreme pain - lost without Jesus Christ. It's the only explanation for the amount of anger they have when confronted with the Holy Spirit indwelling in a person such as Sarah. She's someone they can't touch - at least not that they can see. She doesn't react to their barbs. So they just get angrier and angrier.
Even after this, they haven't touched her. Her sadness is for the effect it had on the church and the messed up lives of the arsonists. But their attack doesn't change anything within her. They can't touch her. She's above everything they try to do to her. That's because she has Jesus in her heart. As Joe the Plummer said, "She's the real deal."
Dear Lord, Bless Sarah, and give her - our Esther - as well as her husband - her protector - all the strength and wisdom necessary for the job you have set before them.
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Sarah Palin's home church in Wasilla was set on fire by an arsonist about 10 pm Friday night. On Saturday, the fire chief said that the fire was "definitely suspicious."
Isn't that something? The anger directed at Sarah Palin during the campaign was unbelievable. It seems as though someone still hasn't gotten over it.
What's amazing was all the accusations made by those on the left about how horrid the right was going to be toward Obama. There were all kinds of accusations concerning racism and the danger that would come from "rednecks." But it was Sarah that was the recipient of the greater number of vicious attacks - and it was due to her Christian world view. Apparently, a lot more people hate Christians than hate people of a different race.
The Wasilla Bible Church has an estimated $1 million worth of damage. Fortunately, none of the ten people inside, including two children, were injured.
But Sarah is said to have faith in "the scriptural passage that what was intended for evil will in some way be used for good."
Pastor Larry Kroon said to KTUU TV, "I've had a lot worst calls at night. When one of your parishioners dies or loses a child, it's a whole different thing than the building's on fire."
Give thanks to God for everything. Every travail is an opportunity. Praise God for His goodness. Pray protection for Sarah, her family and her church and that God come against those that would try to hurt them. But also pray for those that set the fire. They must have a lot of anger and pain in their hearts to have done something like this. They really need Jesus Christ.
So many people in our country are in extreme pain - lost without Jesus Christ. It's the only explanation for the amount of anger they have when confronted with the Holy Spirit indwelling in a person such as Sarah. She's someone they can't touch - at least not that they can see. She doesn't react to their barbs. So they just get angrier and angrier.
Even after this, they haven't touched her. Her sadness is for the effect it had on the church and the messed up lives of the arsonists. But their attack doesn't change anything within her. They can't touch her. She's above everything they try to do to her. That's because she has Jesus in her heart. As Joe the Plummer said, "She's the real deal."
Dear Lord, Bless Sarah, and give her - our Esther - as well as her husband - her protector - all the strength and wisdom necessary for the job you have set before them.
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Saturday, December 13, 2008
Funny - Democrats v. Republicans
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Comment by Henry, http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/12/10/miller_blago/
December 11th, 2008 at 1:29 am
"A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost. She lowered altitude and spotted a man in a boat below. She shouted to him, “Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don’t know where I am.”
The man consulted his portable GPS and replied, “You’re in a hot air balloon approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2,346 feet above sea level. You are 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude.”
She rolled her eyes and said, “You must be a Republican.”
“I am,” replied the man. “How did you know?”
“Well,” answered the balloonist, “everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and I’m still lost. Frankly, you’ve not been much help to me.”
The man smiled and responded, “You must be a Democrat.”
“I am,” replied the balloonist. “But how did you know?”
“Well,” said the man, “You don’t know where you are or where you’re going. You’ve risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You’ve made a promise that you have no idea how to keep, and now you expect ME to solve your problem. You’re in EXACTLY the same position you were in before we met, but somehow, now, it’s MY fault."
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Comment by Henry, http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/12/10/miller_blago/
December 11th, 2008 at 1:29 am
"A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost. She lowered altitude and spotted a man in a boat below. She shouted to him, “Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don’t know where I am.”
The man consulted his portable GPS and replied, “You’re in a hot air balloon approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2,346 feet above sea level. You are 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude.”
She rolled her eyes and said, “You must be a Republican.”
“I am,” replied the man. “How did you know?”
“Well,” answered the balloonist, “everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and I’m still lost. Frankly, you’ve not been much help to me.”
The man smiled and responded, “You must be a Democrat.”
“I am,” replied the balloonist. “But how did you know?”
“Well,” said the man, “You don’t know where you are or where you’re going. You’ve risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You’ve made a promise that you have no idea how to keep, and now you expect ME to solve your problem. You’re in EXACTLY the same position you were in before we met, but somehow, now, it’s MY fault."
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Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Today is "Day with Pay!"
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I'm so excited to hit the road and get to work today! What a beautiful day it is! Doesn't matter to me if it's snowing and cold or rainy and wet or hot and dry. Every day that I am blessed with privilege to go to work and make a living is a great day. Thank God I live in a country where so many jobs are available, so many grocery stores are so well stocked with food, and where I have the freedom to pass from town to town without being stopped by road side guards. I am not in high danger of being kidnapped, or car bombed, or even stoned.
Praise God! We live in a great Country.
Further more, I am so happy seeing the wonderful nativity scenes depicting the historical couple, Joseph and Mary with their little baby Jesus. This is truly a time for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, who lived, died, and rose again for us.
It's snowing where we live. I love celebrating a white Christmas.
May God continue to bless and be with us here in America, guiding us in all that we do.
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I'm so excited to hit the road and get to work today! What a beautiful day it is! Doesn't matter to me if it's snowing and cold or rainy and wet or hot and dry. Every day that I am blessed with privilege to go to work and make a living is a great day. Thank God I live in a country where so many jobs are available, so many grocery stores are so well stocked with food, and where I have the freedom to pass from town to town without being stopped by road side guards. I am not in high danger of being kidnapped, or car bombed, or even stoned.
Praise God! We live in a great Country.
Further more, I am so happy seeing the wonderful nativity scenes depicting the historical couple, Joseph and Mary with their little baby Jesus. This is truly a time for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, who lived, died, and rose again for us.
It's snowing where we live. I love celebrating a white Christmas.
May God continue to bless and be with us here in America, guiding us in all that we do.
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Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Governor Blagojevich, Obama Pal, Arrested for Corruption - Selling Obama's Seat
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According to Fox News, "FBI Special Agent-in-Charge in Chicago Robert Grant said he was asked by reporters when he first started the investigation "whether or not Illinois is the most corrupt state in the United States." He responded, "...I didn't answer that question, yes or no, and I can't answer that question today...But I can tell you one thing: If it isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, its certainly one hell of a competitor," he said. The series of allegations say that Blagojevich and Harris tried to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat to the highest bidder. Fitzgerald quoted Blagojevich recorded during court-authorized wiretaps as saying, "It's a 'bleeping' valuable thing. You just don't give it away for nothing."
Again, as I have said in previous blogs, one of the reasons, (along with his many shady companions), that I mistrust Obama is that he has been raised and nurtured in one of the most politically corrupt areas of America, and there is evidence to indicate that he didn't make his leaps from one seat to the next based on just his good looks.
How much did Obama "pay" for that Senate seat that Blagojevich thought was valuable enough to "sell" again? Who did he make deals with? Apparently, that's how it's done in Illinois.
What I can't understand is that despite the many evidences of corrupt associations in Obama's life, a large number of people want to continue to believe it's all just coincidence and that poor Obama never knew anything about any of the shady deals going on around him. He's just always been some innocent, oblivious and pure by-stander.
What a load of crud.
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According to Fox News, "FBI Special Agent-in-Charge in Chicago Robert Grant said he was asked by reporters when he first started the investigation "whether or not Illinois is the most corrupt state in the United States." He responded, "...I didn't answer that question, yes or no, and I can't answer that question today...But I can tell you one thing: If it isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, its certainly one hell of a competitor," he said. The series of allegations say that Blagojevich and Harris tried to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat to the highest bidder. Fitzgerald quoted Blagojevich recorded during court-authorized wiretaps as saying, "It's a 'bleeping' valuable thing. You just don't give it away for nothing."
Again, as I have said in previous blogs, one of the reasons, (along with his many shady companions), that I mistrust Obama is that he has been raised and nurtured in one of the most politically corrupt areas of America, and there is evidence to indicate that he didn't make his leaps from one seat to the next based on just his good looks.
How much did Obama "pay" for that Senate seat that Blagojevich thought was valuable enough to "sell" again? Who did he make deals with? Apparently, that's how it's done in Illinois.
What I can't understand is that despite the many evidences of corrupt associations in Obama's life, a large number of people want to continue to believe it's all just coincidence and that poor Obama never knew anything about any of the shady deals going on around him. He's just always been some innocent, oblivious and pure by-stander.
What a load of crud.
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Prosecute the Wal-Mart Line Breakers
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The fate of a Wal-mart employee, trambled by shoppers the day after Thanksgiving, is now being used to bolster the personal agendas of various interests.
Parade magazine blamed "shopoholics." As if it some type of illness that bears no responsibility.
A column in The New York Post blamed "anxiety about the economy." Again, not the shopper's fault.
The New York Times, consistent idiots that they are, blamed President Bush for encouraging people to continue bolstering the economy after 9/11.
Some people blame the Nassau police. Admittedly, people would probably behave differently if a police car was parked near the entrance and a couple of uniforms stood on the sidewalk. But are the police supposed to man every store that opens early after Thanksgiving, and is it their job to do so?
Fox News contributor, Judith Miller, wrote, "Attorney Hecht, targeting Wal-Mart and other companies, was quick to absolve shoppers of blame. "They are not responsible."
Miller went on, "Perhaps greed is not criminal and behaving like a crazed animal is understandable in light of tough economic times. But I think many Americans would disagree, even avid shoppers like me. Blaming "capitalism" for such conduct, or diluting Wal-Mart’s responsibility through psycho-babble about the addiction of shopping only underscores the injustice of Mr. Damour’s fate."
Wal-mart DOES bear responsibility for crowd control. One method used by some stores in the past was to hand out tickets in the waiting crowd - 100 tickets for the 100 low-priced TV's, 75 tickets for that microwave. That way, the 101st person waiting for the TV and 76th person waiting for the microwave could go home. Without a ticket, there's no need to rush. However, that wouldn't get serve the purpose of having "door busters" in the first place - which is to get as many people in the door as possible in the hope that they will purchase regularily priced merchandise as well.
Still, crowd control is the responsibility of Wal-mart and other stores, and if police can't be there, then the stores need to hire a trained, private security firm. Their employees are not crowd control specialists and shouldn't be put in the position to be so.
Finally, YES, some, but not all, within the crowd itself DO bear responsibility. Specifically, those that sat in their cars waiting for the doors to open, and then rushed the front of the line.
Jerks. Selfish, greedy, horrible people.
Yes, they ARE totally responsible for their behavior, and if there is any way to discover who they are, a way should be found to punish them - perhaps something to do with behavior that incites a riot and results in injury or death.
The shoppers that stood properly in line waiting for the doors to open, but were pushed through the doors by the horrible greedy people that rushed the line, were victims along with Mr. Damour. While there were people in the crowd that couldn't care less about Mr. Damour, most people in America do have a conscience. Some of them are going to live the rest of their lives with the guilt of having seen Mr. Damour fall. They might have even felt themselves stumble over him, but under the crush of the crowd were unable to stop or do anything about it. Fearful of admitting that they were among those that were pushed across Mr. Damour, they will always feel that guilt and will always wonder what, if anything, they could have or should have done differently.
If there is anyway to tell who waited in the cars and then rushed the front of the line, these are the people to prosecute.
.
The fate of a Wal-mart employee, trambled by shoppers the day after Thanksgiving, is now being used to bolster the personal agendas of various interests.
Parade magazine blamed "shopoholics." As if it some type of illness that bears no responsibility.
A column in The New York Post blamed "anxiety about the economy." Again, not the shopper's fault.
The New York Times, consistent idiots that they are, blamed President Bush for encouraging people to continue bolstering the economy after 9/11.
Some people blame the Nassau police. Admittedly, people would probably behave differently if a police car was parked near the entrance and a couple of uniforms stood on the sidewalk. But are the police supposed to man every store that opens early after Thanksgiving, and is it their job to do so?
Fox News contributor, Judith Miller, wrote, "Attorney Hecht, targeting Wal-Mart and other companies, was quick to absolve shoppers of blame. "They are not responsible."
Miller went on, "Perhaps greed is not criminal and behaving like a crazed animal is understandable in light of tough economic times. But I think many Americans would disagree, even avid shoppers like me. Blaming "capitalism" for such conduct, or diluting Wal-Mart’s responsibility through psycho-babble about the addiction of shopping only underscores the injustice of Mr. Damour’s fate."
Wal-mart DOES bear responsibility for crowd control. One method used by some stores in the past was to hand out tickets in the waiting crowd - 100 tickets for the 100 low-priced TV's, 75 tickets for that microwave. That way, the 101st person waiting for the TV and 76th person waiting for the microwave could go home. Without a ticket, there's no need to rush. However, that wouldn't get serve the purpose of having "door busters" in the first place - which is to get as many people in the door as possible in the hope that they will purchase regularily priced merchandise as well.
Still, crowd control is the responsibility of Wal-mart and other stores, and if police can't be there, then the stores need to hire a trained, private security firm. Their employees are not crowd control specialists and shouldn't be put in the position to be so.
Finally, YES, some, but not all, within the crowd itself DO bear responsibility. Specifically, those that sat in their cars waiting for the doors to open, and then rushed the front of the line.
Jerks. Selfish, greedy, horrible people.
Yes, they ARE totally responsible for their behavior, and if there is any way to discover who they are, a way should be found to punish them - perhaps something to do with behavior that incites a riot and results in injury or death.
The shoppers that stood properly in line waiting for the doors to open, but were pushed through the doors by the horrible greedy people that rushed the line, were victims along with Mr. Damour. While there were people in the crowd that couldn't care less about Mr. Damour, most people in America do have a conscience. Some of them are going to live the rest of their lives with the guilt of having seen Mr. Damour fall. They might have even felt themselves stumble over him, but under the crush of the crowd were unable to stop or do anything about it. Fearful of admitting that they were among those that were pushed across Mr. Damour, they will always feel that guilt and will always wonder what, if anything, they could have or should have done differently.
If there is anyway to tell who waited in the cars and then rushed the front of the line, these are the people to prosecute.
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Monday, December 8, 2008
PRESS RELEASE: LAWSUIT CONCERNING NATIONAL BISON RANGE
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For Immediate Release:
LAWSUIT TO BLOCK TRIBAL TAKEOVER OF NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Bison Range Deal Cedes “Inherently Federal” Functions and Bars Public Oversight
Washington, DC — A Bush administration deal giving operational control over the National Bison Range to a Montana tribe for the next three years is illegal, according to a federal lawsuit filed today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). This precedent-setting arrangement has national repercussions, as another 18 refuges in 8 states, constituting 80% of the entire National Wildlife Refuge System, are eligible for similar tribal agreements. So are 57 National Parks in 19 states, including parks such as Redwood, Glacier, Voyageurs, Olympic and the Cape Cod National Seashore.
Plaintiffs bringing the suit feature four former Bison Range refuge managers whose tenures span 40 years, a former Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System and Nathaniel Reed, former Assistant Interior Secretary during the Nixon and Ford administrations, as well as a current Bison Range employee whose job is being displaced. The suit cites violations of federal laws which –
“The National Bison Range agreement improperly contracts out operation of a major federal facility without adequate oversight to protect taxpayers,” stated PEER senior counsel Paula Dinerstein, who filed the action today in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. “Ceding substantial control over a national refuge requires an act of Congress and cannot legally be given away in a closed-door deal.”
Negotiated with top U.S. Interior Department officials, the Bison Range agreement transfers all jobs, except for a Refuge Manager and deputy, to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT). This agreement, which takes full effect in January, is a successor to a more limited FY 2005 agreement which the Fish & Wildlife Service summarily rescinded in December 2006 citing a host of performance-related issues on the part of the Tribe, as well as reported mistreatment of FWS employees by the CSKT.
“This arrangement seems designed to settle a political debt rather than enhance the refuge mission,” Dinerstein added. “In fact, the agreement itself concedes that wildlife-related services will likely suffer.”
Called the crown jewel of the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Bison Range is one of the nation’s oldest refuges and celebrated its centennial this past May. .
###
See the PEER suit
http://www.peer.org/docs/nwr/08_8_12_bison_range_complaint_.pdf
Look at who are the key plaintiffs
http://www.peer.org/docs/nwr/08_8_12_bison_range_case_plaintiffs.pdf
Learn more about the Bison Range agreement
http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=1105
ALSO SEE: Dying In Indian Country - The National Bison Range Controversy
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For Immediate Release:
LAWSUIT TO BLOCK TRIBAL TAKEOVER OF NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Bison Range Deal Cedes “Inherently Federal” Functions and Bars Public Oversight
Washington, DC — A Bush administration deal giving operational control over the National Bison Range to a Montana tribe for the next three years is illegal, according to a federal lawsuit filed today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). This precedent-setting arrangement has national repercussions, as another 18 refuges in 8 states, constituting 80% of the entire National Wildlife Refuge System, are eligible for similar tribal agreements. So are 57 National Parks in 19 states, including parks such as Redwood, Glacier, Voyageurs, Olympic and the Cape Cod National Seashore.
Plaintiffs bringing the suit feature four former Bison Range refuge managers whose tenures span 40 years, a former Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System and Nathaniel Reed, former Assistant Interior Secretary during the Nixon and Ford administrations, as well as a current Bison Range employee whose job is being displaced. The suit cites violations of federal laws which –
- Forbid outsourcing “inherently federal functions” as well as require that operational control of all refuges remain with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service;
- Ensure public access to financial and other records maintained by federal contractors and mandate a full and open review of environmental impacts of major federal actions; and
- Shield federal employees from job loss at the direction of groups outside the federal government and guarantee return rights once the agreement ends.
“The National Bison Range agreement improperly contracts out operation of a major federal facility without adequate oversight to protect taxpayers,” stated PEER senior counsel Paula Dinerstein, who filed the action today in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. “Ceding substantial control over a national refuge requires an act of Congress and cannot legally be given away in a closed-door deal.”
Negotiated with top U.S. Interior Department officials, the Bison Range agreement transfers all jobs, except for a Refuge Manager and deputy, to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT). This agreement, which takes full effect in January, is a successor to a more limited FY 2005 agreement which the Fish & Wildlife Service summarily rescinded in December 2006 citing a host of performance-related issues on the part of the Tribe, as well as reported mistreatment of FWS employees by the CSKT.
“This arrangement seems designed to settle a political debt rather than enhance the refuge mission,” Dinerstein added. “In fact, the agreement itself concedes that wildlife-related services will likely suffer.”
Called the crown jewel of the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Bison Range is one of the nation’s oldest refuges and celebrated its centennial this past May. .
###
See the PEER suit
http://www.peer.org/docs/nwr/08_8_12_bison_range_complaint_.pdf
Look at who are the key plaintiffs
http://www.peer.org/docs/nwr/08_8_12_bison_range_case_plaintiffs.pdf
Learn more about the Bison Range agreement
http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=1105
ALSO SEE: Dying In Indian Country - The National Bison Range Controversy
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Hurry - Contact Your State Legislator About Changes that Need to Be Made
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Being elected to Congress or the State Legislature is a wonderful and exciting opportunity, but it brings with it heavy responsibility.
With the pressures today's seat holders carry, it would be much easier to submit to what seems most popular rather than what is truly best. I pray that our legislators remember their constituents and what is their real needs are.
The proper care of all constituents is an extremely heavy responsibility and one that I admit I am grateful I don't have to carry. It's all too easy when under stress to give up, give in and just let something slide.
Hurry now, if you haven't already, and contact your US Senator, Congressman, and State Legislator about the issues that are very important to you. They are putting bills together right now for the 2009 legislative sessions. They need to hear from you. Some states only allow their legislators to submit a certain number of bills. Make sure that your bill is one of them.
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Being elected to Congress or the State Legislature is a wonderful and exciting opportunity, but it brings with it heavy responsibility.
With the pressures today's seat holders carry, it would be much easier to submit to what seems most popular rather than what is truly best. I pray that our legislators remember their constituents and what is their real needs are.
The proper care of all constituents is an extremely heavy responsibility and one that I admit I am grateful I don't have to carry. It's all too easy when under stress to give up, give in and just let something slide.
Hurry now, if you haven't already, and contact your US Senator, Congressman, and State Legislator about the issues that are very important to you. They are putting bills together right now for the 2009 legislative sessions. They need to hear from you. Some states only allow their legislators to submit a certain number of bills. Make sure that your bill is one of them.
,
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Palin Made the Difference for Sen. Saxby Chambliss
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Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss told FOX News that Governor Sarah Palin put him over the top to win his Dec. 2nd runoff.
Soon after winning back his U.S Senate seat, Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss credited Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin with firing up the base and helping him win. “I mean, I can't overstate the impact she had down here,” Chambliss told Fox News Wednesday morning. “When she walks in a room, folks just explode. And they really did pack the house everywhere we went. She's a dynamic lady, a great administrator, and I think she's got a great future in the Republican Party.”
Chambliss had asked Governor Palin to join him for four rallies across the Georgia. She was his "closer," campaigning in Augusta, Savannah, Perry and Atlanta on Monday, Dec. 1st. He said that her star status is definitely not diminishing within the party.
He also thanked McCain and the other Republicans that came to Georgia, but said campaign appearances by Palin made the biggest impact. He said."Sarah Palin came in on the last day, did a fly-around and, man, she was dynamite. We packed the houses everywhere we went. And it really did allow us to peak and get our base fired up,"
Palin drew adoring crowds during her campaign for vice president. Her name at GOP rallies drew louder cheers than McCain's. She came away from the 2008 election very popular with the conservative base, getting book offers and countless interview requests. Websites and organizations supporting her have blossomed all over the internet in the last month.
Jim Martin, Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss' challenger for the Georgia Senate seat Martin's campaign on Tuesday got Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign manager to stump for him on Monday.
Martin had asked Obama to campaign with him but was turned down. Instead, Obama recorded a radio ad and phone calls for Martin.
Because of Senator Chambliss' victory, Democrats do not have a 60-seat filibuster-proof majority. At least there's that!
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Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss told FOX News that Governor Sarah Palin put him over the top to win his Dec. 2nd runoff.
Soon after winning back his U.S Senate seat, Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss credited Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin with firing up the base and helping him win. “I mean, I can't overstate the impact she had down here,” Chambliss told Fox News Wednesday morning. “When she walks in a room, folks just explode. And they really did pack the house everywhere we went. She's a dynamic lady, a great administrator, and I think she's got a great future in the Republican Party.”
Chambliss had asked Governor Palin to join him for four rallies across the Georgia. She was his "closer," campaigning in Augusta, Savannah, Perry and Atlanta on Monday, Dec. 1st. He said that her star status is definitely not diminishing within the party.
He also thanked McCain and the other Republicans that came to Georgia, but said campaign appearances by Palin made the biggest impact. He said."Sarah Palin came in on the last day, did a fly-around and, man, she was dynamite. We packed the houses everywhere we went. And it really did allow us to peak and get our base fired up,"
Palin drew adoring crowds during her campaign for vice president. Her name at GOP rallies drew louder cheers than McCain's. She came away from the 2008 election very popular with the conservative base, getting book offers and countless interview requests. Websites and organizations supporting her have blossomed all over the internet in the last month.
Jim Martin, Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss' challenger for the Georgia Senate seat Martin's campaign on Tuesday got Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign manager to stump for him on Monday.
Martin had asked Obama to campaign with him but was turned down. Instead, Obama recorded a radio ad and phone calls for Martin.
Because of Senator Chambliss' victory, Democrats do not have a 60-seat filibuster-proof majority. At least there's that!
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Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Do You know How Many Rotten Cities in America Have Democratic Mayors?
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Partial quotes from Conservatism Today, Posted by Scott on November 26, 2008 at 03:32 PM
For his full comments and quiz, see:
Want Crime? Elect a Democrat Mayor - Quiz Included:
TrackBack URL for this entry:http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/3009628/36278054
Want Crime? Elect a Democrat Mayor -
Interesting crime statistics from CQPress.com... In order, here are the 15 most crime-ridden cities for 2008:
1 New Orleans, LA
2 Camden, NJ
3 Detroit, MI
4 St. Louis, MO
5 Oakland, CA
6 Flint, MI
7 Gary, IN
8 Birmingham, AL
9 Richmond, CA
10 North Charleston, SC
11 Cleveland, OH
12 Baltimore, MD
13 Miami Gardens, FL
14 Memphis, TN
15 Youngstown, OH
"What do all these cities have in common? No Republican mayors. 13 Democrats, 1 Green Party and 1 Independent.
"What do most of them have in common? Democrats have controlled them for all or most of the last 50 years.
"I eyeballed the rest of the list. If you go down to number 33, I'm guessing there are no more than five current or recent Republican mayors.
"If you look at the areas with the least crime, you see tons of Texas cities and all the conservative parts of California and New York.
"Any lessons to be learned here? Of course not. These places have all had 50+ years to learn the lessons. They are obviously not capable of doing so. Who says we don't get the government we deserve?"
Comment from Midwest Voting Mom; How many of these big cities are blue on the U.S. map of how counties voted the 2008 election? These cities have larger populations than the rural areas of their states. So they decided the election. That doesn't mean that they're very bright.
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Partial quotes from Conservatism Today, Posted by Scott on November 26, 2008 at 03:32 PM
For his full comments and quiz, see:
Want Crime? Elect a Democrat Mayor - Quiz Included:
TrackBack URL for this entry:http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/3009628/36278054
Want Crime? Elect a Democrat Mayor -
Interesting crime statistics from CQPress.com... In order, here are the 15 most crime-ridden cities for 2008:
1 New Orleans, LA
2 Camden, NJ
3 Detroit, MI
4 St. Louis, MO
5 Oakland, CA
6 Flint, MI
7 Gary, IN
8 Birmingham, AL
9 Richmond, CA
10 North Charleston, SC
11 Cleveland, OH
12 Baltimore, MD
13 Miami Gardens, FL
14 Memphis, TN
15 Youngstown, OH
"What do all these cities have in common? No Republican mayors. 13 Democrats, 1 Green Party and 1 Independent.
"What do most of them have in common? Democrats have controlled them for all or most of the last 50 years.
"I eyeballed the rest of the list. If you go down to number 33, I'm guessing there are no more than five current or recent Republican mayors.
"If you look at the areas with the least crime, you see tons of Texas cities and all the conservative parts of California and New York.
"Any lessons to be learned here? Of course not. These places have all had 50+ years to learn the lessons. They are obviously not capable of doing so. Who says we don't get the government we deserve?"
Comment from Midwest Voting Mom; How many of these big cities are blue on the U.S. map of how counties voted the 2008 election? These cities have larger populations than the rural areas of their states. So they decided the election. That doesn't mean that they're very bright.
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Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Moveon.org Members Demonstrate Love and Patience with Each Other
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At an Upper Eastside Manhattan get-together, Moveon.org members show the rest of us how to work together with patience and congeniality.
Again, look at the election map showing how Obama won most of the big cities, populated by these people, and McCain won most of the US counties, populated by other Americans.
There may be more of these type of people in the big cities then there are other people in the rural counties. But as these people in the big cities appear to want to dominate the rest of us, believing that they truly know better than the rest of America as to what is right and wrong, it would be very important to see that they are able to perform their superior functions with maturity and grace.
Interesting to see how they attempt to dominate even each other, unable to even apologize to another human for using foul language, etc. Normal social graces of the past don't appear to be evident on the Upper east side. If this is common behavior among their group, it's no wonder they can't understand a woman like Sarah Palin. It's no wonder they assume the worst of her - they don't have a lot of experience with people of Sarah's character.
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At an Upper Eastside Manhattan get-together, Moveon.org members show the rest of us how to work together with patience and congeniality.
Again, look at the election map showing how Obama won most of the big cities, populated by these people, and McCain won most of the US counties, populated by other Americans.
There may be more of these type of people in the big cities then there are other people in the rural counties. But as these people in the big cities appear to want to dominate the rest of us, believing that they truly know better than the rest of America as to what is right and wrong, it would be very important to see that they are able to perform their superior functions with maturity and grace.
Interesting to see how they attempt to dominate even each other, unable to even apologize to another human for using foul language, etc. Normal social graces of the past don't appear to be evident on the Upper east side. If this is common behavior among their group, it's no wonder they can't understand a woman like Sarah Palin. It's no wonder they assume the worst of her - they don't have a lot of experience with people of Sarah's character.
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Monday, December 1, 2008
Most of the Counties in America voted for McCain
Red = McCain, Blue = Obama
Most of the Counties = McCain, Most of the big cities = Obama
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